LCFEF Spring Gala Goes ‘Under the Big Top’

More than 660 local residents enjoyed a fun-filled evening at the 28th annual La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation Spring Gala, themed “Under the Big Top,” last Saturday at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Los Angeles. Gala participants mixed, mingled, shopped, dined and danced with hundreds of their fellow community supporters to celebrate 40 years of LCFEF and raise money for the city’s public schools. The event’s silent auction featured more than 600 items and the paddle-pledge fundraiser, “Empowering Our Kids To Strive and Thrive,” broke a record by raising more than $200,000, according to LCFEF Executive Director Marilyn Yang. The initiative supports major projects in partnership with the La Cañada Unified School District as part of a K-12 wellness initiative. The paddle pledge raised funds to support three key elements of this initiative that will impact more than 4,100 in grades K-12:
• New curriculum in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) approach for elementary school students
• New LCHS Wellness Center and Resource Hub
• New LCHS College & Career Center
Also at the gala, LCFEF honored Craig and Melissa Mazin as this year’s Spirit of Outstanding Service Award honorees. The Mazins have made extraordinary contributions to improve LCUSD schools, both in financial support and leadership at the campuses and the foundation. Their service includes a record of volunteerism that spans leadership roles on the foundation board and its endowment, La Cañada Council PTA and Palm Crest Elementary School. “Craig and Melissa exemplify the very best in service to La Cañada schools,” said LCFEF President Caroline Anderson, who co-chaired the gala with Sunyoung Fahimi. “Through their many years of dedication and support, they have created a brighter future and paved the way for all of our children to succeed.”